3, 2, 1, GLOW!!

My all time favorite part of the Howell Balloonfest is the Glow. 

          

The girls hanging out on the hill waiting.  Tallen wouldn’t hold still for a photo.

You (the public) gather on the grounds and hill surrounding a huge open area near the high school as some of the balloons are taking off. There was a live band to entertain during the wait. Nice. It’s cool to watch the balloons float over and hear the “Whooosh” of the fire heating the air for more lift, but the really cool part is later. Just as the sun has set and it’s getting dark (and the mosquitos are REALLY coming for you) the field by the is filled with hot air balloons still flat and deflated all over on the ground. Then they are blown up, all at the same time it appears, in a rush to be ready.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then the countdown begins…  the crowd yells and counts…

 

3, 2, 1, GLOW!!!!

and the balloons go from big dark blobs to globes full of light as the pilots turn on the flames under the balloons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balloonfest 2010

Balloonfest 2010

The pictures don’t really do it justice, so here are some video clips I caught.

WELCOME Spring!

Winter is the time to huddle close and get to know our families all aver again. To sit and read, knit, or play games by the fire. I understand that God made the seasons so the earth would have a chance to also huddle close and regenerate and rejuvenate. Winter is quite beautiful in it’s white and crystalline splendor.  Clean and bright. Like…well, clean and bright “whites.” There’s nothing like it. The snow and ice on the window panes. The scraping of the windshield. The plowing or snow blowing of the driveway and sidewalk. The COLD and the bundling up to go outside.  Seeing your breath in clouds above your head. Having your nose run and then freeze to your face. Gotta love Michigan winters. ENOUGH winter though!!! It's March. I am still hoping that it will be warm enough on Easter to have an OUTSIDE egg hunt this year.

This is the face of a boy who is VERY happy to play outside without boots to weigh him down and snow pants to slow him down. I am soooo over winter! It took a while to get here and I was ok with that. Overall, we had a mild winter. The girls had 2 snow days and the hill at the park was not even sled worthy until we had the huge storm that caused the snow days.  Steven took the kids out, I think, 6 times and I even took Tallen over for a play date once.  I know – shock- right? I was a mild day.  And my feet didn’t fall asleep in my new boots.  yea!!!!

It appears that spring is here.  I am hoping it's going to stay. Here is the first really warm day we had on the 6th.  It was 50 degrees that day. Only the snow hiding in the corner was still there.


I have waited all winter to do this. The air was crisp and cool. The sheets dried quickly and smell so GREAT!  There are few things about spring I like more than hanging the clothes to dry and then getting to feel the warmth of them and smell the spring air in them as I take them down and fold them.  Ahhhhhh – Spring!!

        BEAUTIFUL!!

The canal in the back is filling with life…in one week, the frozen canal has quickly transformed from this…



…to this! The Canada Geese are returning and filling the air with goose honks and the yard with droppings.

The boy birds were out trying to get the girl birds attention, singing their hearts out.

Only the end of the canal (2 doors down) has ice by afternoon.  Very exciting for all.  Tallen took his little Lightning McQueen fishing pole to practice casting the line and the pair of geese didn’t like it, so they left for a while.  They are nesting in the yard 2 doors down (the other direction.)  I hope we get a nesting pair in our backyard. That would be fun.




Here’s the garden. Waiting for some love. I need to plot it out on paper and put the seeds to start.  I started way too late last year and some were not ready for harvest in time. Or were too hot by the time they were big enough…peas don’t like heat.  I need to put the lettuce and peas in today so they will get ready in time.  Yummy!! Fresh salad.  I can hardly wait!



As warm as the days are lately, the nights are still in need of a cozy fire, so Steven cut some wood for us yesterday before he left for work. 


Tallen was such a big help!























 Tallen hauled the wood to the porch and they stacked it on the porch.


This is what spring looks like at my house…
What about yours???

Quiet

I woke up early this morning, REALLY early for me. 6:01am. I know I should go downstairs and exercise...but I'd rather sit, bundled against the chill in the air with my goose down lap blanket and listen to my Husband snoring, the cat purring, the birds chirping and singing and watch the sky get lighter. I love mornings for this reason. Just a time to be alone in the quiet and BE with God and his creations. I think I get too busy with the fluff of life later in the day, to BE with Him. Maybe that's why we are told to "Be still and know that I am God." It is in the stillness of our hearts and minds that He speaks loudest of all. I think I might make a habit of this waking up early. If I want to be a instrument in His hands, I SHOULD take time to be instructed shouldn't I?
Maybe I can combine the goals: wake up early, commune with my Heavenly Father AND get exercise. Now that spring is FINALLY here, I can walk outside. :o) Maybe I'll even add reading my scriptures and more regular Temple attendance to the routine. What is it they say? 21 days to a new habit? We'll see...but for today, I enjoyed the time with God.
The birds just turned off, like an alarm clock that's buzzed too long...why do they do that? At 6:00, it's wildly noisey out there. At 6:30, a good many stop chattering and by 7:00, it's quiet and all I hear is the Husband snores, cat purrs and the clock ticking from the bathroom (I didn't notice it until just now.) Why do they not sing in the daytime? How do birds communicate with one another? Or are they just listening now? I feel disappointed and sad with the bird song gone. I guess it would be like when the spirit is there (as the birds are still there) but I can't hear it. I must set myself to listen better.

Be still, and KNOW that I am God.
I like it.